With a Name Like Lora Songster,

She Had to Be a DJ

 

By Carolyn S. Peterson

 

“Yes, that is my real,

maiden name. No

name change to fit my

profession. I have

heard of radio

personalities changing

their names, like a traffic

guy named Layne Closure, but

I’ve always been Lora Songster,”

confirmed WMAG radio personality

Lora Songster. Not only has she always

been Lora Songster, she’s always had that ’smooth,

friendly, girl I’d like to chat with, woman I’d like to sound

like,’ voice.

Born in Oregon and raised in Syracuse, New York, Songster

has had one, and only one, job in radio, which is quite rare.

“As a senior at High Point University, I started here at

WMAG and have been here 21 years. They can’t get rid of

me,” stated Songster.

Songster was raised on the principle that hard work and being

available to do what is needed in any situation can only help

your career. In her 21 years at the station, Songster has done

it all, from writing commercials, to reading the obituary

column on the AM station, to NASCAR reporting, to cleaning

up pizza boxes in the break room. Those years have also been

years of change. With everything from the songs to the artists

on computers, technology has made the radio business

“immediate.” Gone are the days of looking up a song or an

artist when a listener calls in with a request.

Bill Flynn and Rod Davis are two other long time radio

personalities on WMAG and for the past six years, from 5:30

9:00 am, Songster has been the female on-air cohort with

Bill Flynn. “I love my job, but not being a morning person

can take a toll when you get up at 3:30 am and you have two

teenage daughters at home,” commented Songster.

Her on-air time is very important to Songster. “People are

barraged by choices, from the iPod to satellite radio, but the

warmth and connectedness of local radio is what sets us apart.

Keeping our listeners up on the local happenings is what

people count on,” said Songster.

A glance around WMAG’s studio, and Songster’s personal

bulletin board, tells a lot about Songster and her passions.

Daughters Liza and Lucy are front and center on the board,

and in their mom’s life. Close by, few listeners know that

Songster recently married George Clooney and has a ’thing’

for Tim McGraw (wink, wink), two prominent photos on the

bulletin board. Pictured around George and Tim are photos

of WMAG listeners that Songster holds close at heart, after

meeting through WMAG supported charities. Gesturing

toward each photo, Songster said, “This job has a lot of

public relation appearances, which brings the greatest

rewards. Lending my time and my talent to charities is what

it is all about. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is the

most powerful day of my life each year, outside of my family.

Our radio-thon for Brenner Children’s Hospital has brought

very special friends into my life, like Jonathan, who is no

longer with us, Daniel of Yadkinville, who knitted this little

scarf, proudly hung on Mr. Clooney’s neck, during one of his

treatments. Then there is the Rader family, whose son Paul,

had brain cancer. Each family has taught me about love, life,

giving and recognizing how truly blessed I am.”

A recent blessing for Songster is her husband Danny of five

months. Songster married Danny seven years to the day that

she and Danny met at the station. Although their radio jobs,

and Songster’s commitment to keeping her daughters in their

current schools, keep them in different houses for most of

each week, when they do see each other, the honeymoon starts

over. “Realizing that the decisions that parents such as I

make, like divorce and remarriage, are imposed on kids,

should help us as parents, maintain any stability that we can

and keeping them in a school that they love is important.

Danny and I living apart may not be the ideal, but you do

what you have to do for your kids,” stated Songster.

Listeners might think that Songster puts in her 4 _½ hours in

the morning and then goes home. But that’s not even close.

“I spend time prepping for the morning show, catching up on

topics that are on listeners’ minds, recording commercials,

making PR appearances and sitting in for other DJs, when

needed. The hours fluctuate depending on the season, but an

8 5 job, it ain’t,” said Songster. She wouldn’t have it any

other way, though, as long as she gets in her nap time.

“When you sleep 4 hours a night, a good nap, if possible,

around 1:00 pm, is my favorite past time. My girls know

that, when they get home from school and I say, ’I didn’t get

my nap today,’ keeping things low-key would be a good idea

for the evening,” commented Songster.

Lora Songster may have begun her radio career as a DJ, but

with her warmth, personality and honesty, she has evolved

into a Triad favorite a true girlfriend, you’d like to meet for

coffee and discuss the latest chaos in your family. Songster

has been a breath of fresh ’airwaves’ for 21 years and

hopefully, WMAG will never be able to get rid of her!

Tune in to 99.5 FM, Monday Friday from 5:30 am to 9:00